Wine Recommendation

Bargetto Winery

2003 Reserve Merlot, Regan Vineyards(Santa Cruz Mountains)

This is quintessential cool climate Merlot: sleekly dark, stylish, and unabashedly potent. It reminds me of Katherine Hepburn – a classic big-boned New England aristocrat: slender, sleek and incredibly vibrant. This wine is that blue-blood debutante that shows up in ermine and pearls, leather gloves, and that perfect touch of mink hat.

Bold, yet discreetly refined, it presents powerful aromas of cherry, briar, coffee and sweet cedar. In the mouth, it’s briary, peppery, with big, yet approachable tannins. The very lovely finish is rich with chocolate-covered biscotti with lots of almonds. You might particularly enjoy this wine while watching Dark Passage or The Big Sleep. You’ll even more appreciate how this Merlot, like the female heroines in these movies, never makes too much of itself, and never takes itself too seriously. Considering it is almost 15% alcohol, the fact that it remains classy and true to character, is even more reminiscent of those classiest of movie stars, Lauren Bacall and Kate. If you’ve not had Merlot from the Santa Cruz Mountains, sit down with this one and get acquainted.

The Wine

The Reviewer

Laura Ness

A wine writer and wine judge for major publications and competitions around the country, Laura Ness likens wine to the experience of music. She is always looking for that ubiquitous marriage of rhythm, melody, and flawless execution. What is good music? You know it when you get lost in it. What is good wine? It is music in your mouth.

The Wine

The Reviewer

Laura Ness

A wine writer and wine judge for major publications and competitions around the country, Laura Ness likens wine to the experience of music. She is always looking for that ubiquitous marriage of rhythm, melody, and flawless execution. What is good music? You know it when you get lost in it. What is good wine? It is music in your mouth.